Vancouver Island's offbeat attractions

This summer, a flock of urban escapees will make Vancouver Island their home-free zone.

Many will leap straight from high teas in pseudo-British Victoria to another kind of high in surf-central Tofino without pausing to stare at much of anything in wide-eyed wonder in between. Except gas prices, maybe.

Smack in the middle of this popular duo is Parksville-Qualicum. Geographically, it's the perfect locale for a layover. But with unsightly car dealerships and fast-food chains flanking the highway, visitors might think that buying a vehicle and then cruising it through the A&W drive-thru is the pinnacle of entertainment 'round these parts.

Wrong. Behind the eyesores, this community secretly offers a bevy of scintillating summer attractions.

Little Mountain

Heading North on the Alberni Highway, turn left on Bellevue Road and left on Little Mountain Road. Proceed to the top, where there is a small parking lot.

Barbara Walters ain't got nothin' on this view.

Little Mountain Road, on the outskirts of Parksville, leads to a breathtaking precipice frequented almost exclusively by locals. Stroll along the nature paths or simply sit and contemplate the sea of trees that expands for kilometers below.

Two warnings:

1) As there are no guardrails, this is not a place for young children.

2) The road is very steep. Cycling up is best left to those with bionic thighs.

Some people would have gruffly dismissed a voice urging: "If you put goats on the roof, they will come."

But Larry Geekie saw a goldmine. In 1973, he built a modest country store with a grassy roof and accessorized it with a few Billy goats. Fast forward 35 years and it's a bustling, perennial favourite with both tourists and Islanders.

In addition to taunting the livestock, you can eat at the restaurant, shop for trinkets and browse a comprehensive collection of imported foodstuffs.

And think you'll be able to bypass the buffet of ice cream, including flavours like "Nanaimo Bar" and "Billy Gruff Bits?"

Leaving the hot dogs out overnight when you're camping in the remote wilderness is one way to cosy up to a black bear on Vancouver Island.

However, if you don't want to have to explain the origins of your scars for the rest of your life, visit the North Island Wildlife Recovery and Educational Centre instead. They've got a resident bear, owls, hawks and the largest indoor eagle flight cage of its kind in North America, and it's all open to visitors.

Essentially it's a posh rehab complex for inhuman creatures that have had a rash of bad luck. You might just see Keith Richards in there one of these days.

Top Bridge

Heading North on the Alberni Highway, turn left on Bellevue Road, then make a left on Allsbrook Road and follow it to the end.

You're having a gay old time swimming in the sea. Your friend cracks a joke (probably a double-entendre about "crabs"). You laugh and -- gulp! -- down goes an accidental mouthful of seaweed-seasoned salt water.

It's enough to turn anyone off of ocean swimming.

If you've suffered this very trauma, try a dip at Parksville's secret swimming hole: Top Bridge. The fresh waters are crystal clear and daredevils can leap off "the nose," a natural rocky diving board.

Tiger Woods meets Sherwood Forest at this over-the-top family attraction.

A 15-metre-high old woman's shoe, pirate galleon, Tudor houses and castle are just a few of the shrunken architectural features jammed into an extensive mini golf course.

The addition of bumper boats and an arcade make it a hole-in-one for families whose kids are balking at the idea of visiting another local pottery studio. Yeah, they embed seashells into their teapots ... blah, blah, blah.

No need to suspend your disbelief: this hovering hotel is the real deal.

Two pumpkin-like orbs strung in the trees offer Ewok-approved accommodation from $125/night. But while you will wake up gently swaying in the boughs, surrounded by chirping birds and dappled sunlight, Free Spirit Spheres are anything but rustic. There is an adjacent bathhouse/sauna and both are equipped with heating, lighting, appliances and a sound system so you can plug in you iPod.

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By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.